Joakim Noah chewed out for trying to win Big Macs

Nov. 8, 2012
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Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) reacts after a play against the Orlando Magic during the second half at the United Center. The Chicago Bulls defeat the Orlando Magic 99-93. / Mike DiNovo, US Presswire

by Scott M Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

by Scott M Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

His playing style consists of hustle plays that lead to chest pounds, alley-oop dunks from Derrick Rose (or this season Kirk Hinrich), weird-spinning free throws, and put-backs from missed Carlos Boozer (in most cases) jumpers.

In an effort to please Bulls fans, Noah attempted a three-pointer a little outside of his range (26 feet out) in a game against the Orlando Magic.

The incentive: Big Macs, of course.

The Bulls have a promotion through which fans at the United center can get a free Big Mac if they score 100 points in a home win. With the Bulls short on points in the closing seconds, Noah attempted an uncharacteristic shot from beyond the arc with 3.8 seconds left. Chicago beat Orlando 99-93. You do the math.

It was Noah's fifth career three-point attempt. (He's missed all five). Turns out, it might be his last.

Needless to say, coach Tom Thibodeau was not pleased with his starting center.

"I talked to him about it, but I'm going to keep that private," Thibodeau told ESPNChicago.com. (AKA he lectured him in Bobby Knight tone).

Can Thibodeau really be that harsh on Noah, a fan favorite? The 6-11 big man with an effervescent personality was just trying to be the hero to hungry fans. It's like, come on, he was only trying to get Chicagoans a Big Mac, Thibs. Noah's been a warrior, playing 41 minutes vs. the Magic, the most on the team.

"I got caught up in the moment," Noah said apologetically after the game.

"I regret it a little bit. It wasn't a good shot. ...You have to respect the game because you never know what can happen in a game. I just got caught up in the moment and I was trying to get the people a Big Mac. They really wanted a Big Mac (judging by how loud the crowd was getting) and I felt like, not only did I take the shot and miss the shot, we didn't even get the Big Mac. Next time, I won't take that 3-pointer."

Orlando Magic players saw Noah's shot taken with the Bulls up by six as unsportsmanlike.

"It was unnecessary," Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick said after the game via The Orlando Sentinel.

In the scheme of things, the Bulls got the win against perhaps the worst team in the NBA. Noah's stat line: 20 points, nine rebounds, five blocks, four assists, and this awesome gun-holster moment.

These promotions have angered hungry fans before. Kirk Hinrich was booed after a game despite leading the Bulls to victory, and even Derrick Rose expressed sadness after missing free throws that could have put a free burger in fans' stomachs.

In this game, fans could point blame at Hinrich, who missed BOTH free throws that would have eclipsed the 100-point barrier prior to Noah's shot attempt.

If these players feel so obligated to please the fans, maybe they could open up their own pocketbooks for burgers/chicken wings.

That'd be a solution, but then we'd have a team full of Antoine Walkers.